Do you ever have the feeling that conservation is a practice and an ethos “imposed” from above? Ever worry that ecotourism doesn’t really change the lives of the locals who are supposed to be benefiting from it?
The new Rio Bravo Wildlife Institute, based in the birding mecca of the lower Rio Grande Valley, is a conservation program that starts from the bottom up, involving local communities every step of the way. And protecting the habitats and birds and other animals that make south Texas so attractive a destination.
Thanks for posting this information. I’m particularly interested in conservation that is locally inspired and supported.
As demonstrated by the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, partnerships in the form of so-called Joint Ventures have meant unqualified success for the Plan. The partnership of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Birders’ Exchange, and the many communities of the Lower Rio Grande Valley and beyond have been instrumental in the establishment of the Rio Bravo Wildlife Institute and will lead it to its ultimate success. Congratulations to all those involved.